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BY BILLY SUTER
A COLOURFUL production of the musical, The Wiz, is to be staged outdoors at 7pm nightly, from tomorrow until Saturday (May 1 to 4), as part of the 90th anniversary celebrations of St Henry’s Marist College, 27 Marists Road in Glenwood, Durban.
The show is a reworking of The Wizard of Oz. The Broadway production of The Wiz took the 1975 Tony Award for best musical and a film version starred Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
The St Henry’s Marist College production will be presented in the school amphitheatre and will feature more than 100 pupils, from Grade 1 to 12,
From building the set and making the props, to stage-managing and running the front of house, pupils were responsible for all aspects of the production.
The vibrant music of The Wiz is to be performed by a 15-piece band which, performing live, comprises professional musicians.
The show, staged in association with Samuel French NY, features music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and a book by William F Brown.
It tells of Dorothy, a restless Kansas farm girl eager to see more of the world, and is transported by a tornado to a magical world of Munchkins, witches and a yellow brick road.
On her way to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz, whom she believes can help her get back home to Kansas, she encounters the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. These friends help her battle the Wicked Witch of the West and eventually learn that there really is “no place like home”.
The role of Dorothy is played by Emah Pietersen, with Usiphile Dansoh as Scarecrow, Joshua Robert as Tinman and Mvelo Mthembu as Lion. Qhawe Mthembu plays The Wiz.
Directed by Romi Schumann and Tessa Swart, with assistance from Aimee Bouwer, The Wiz features musical direction by Luke Holder and choreography by Leanne Mundy-Castle, Romi Schumann, Tessa Swart and Aimee Bouwer.
Set and props are designed by Daniella Hartman, Romi Schumann and Aimee Bouwer.
Tickets are on sale at www.quicket.co.za. Hot food will be sold at the school from 5.30pm to 7.30pm each evening. Drinks, chips and sweets will be on sale from 5.30pm until the end of the show.
